Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 6.0)
The diagram illustrates how Porth harbour looked in 2000 and how it appears today.
Overall, there have been significant changes to Porth harbour, including the addition of new facilities and the conversion of several existing areas. The fishing boat area has been replaced with a marina (private yachts), while the disused Castle has been converted into a hotel. In addition, the public beach transformed into a private beach for hotel guests.
On the northwest side of the harbour, a second passenger ferry dock has been added, whereas there was only one passenger dock in 2000. Several commercial facilities have also been introduced. Cafes and shops have been built near the lifeboat area. The shower and toilet areas have been added near the car park and The beach area, which was previously open to the public, has also been turned into a private beach for hotel guests.
In conclusion, there has been major development in Porth Harbour since 2000, with several new facilities and changes to existing areas.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student provides a generally clear overview of the main changes at Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day. Key developments such as the swapping of the marina and fishing boat areas, the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, and the conversion of the public beach to a private hotel beach are successfully highlighted. However, there are some inaccuracies and missed details in the body paragraphs. For instance, the reference to a 'second passenger ferry dock' is incorrect, as the maps show an additional jetty at the existing northern dock entrance rather than a brand new dock. Furthermore, the swapping of the two car park/shower areas is not fully captured. Despite these minor misinterpretations, the response covers the main spatial reorganisation well enough to achieve a solid band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The text is logically organised into four paragraphs, beginning with an introductory sentence and overall summary, followed by body paragraphs detailing specific location changes, and a brief concluding sentence. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used to structure the text, though referencing is occasionally repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate general trends from specific spatial shifts. Progression is generally clear, guiding the reader effectively from the western and northern features down to the southern hotel development. While cohesion can feel slightly formulaic in places, the overall flow meets the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0, supported by clear paragraph breaks.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate to map description tasks, such as 'illustrates', 'conversion', 'replaced', and 'commercial facilities'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'disused' and 'reorganised', though some lexical choices are imprecise or slightly unnatural, such as 'the public beach transformed into' (missing passive voice or auxiliary verb) and repeating 'private beach' multiple times. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate greater flexibility in collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses ('The diagram illustrates how Porth harbour looked...'). There are examples of accurate complex grammar, alongside occasional minor grammatical slips, such as 'the public beach transformed into' lacking a reflexive or passive construction ('was transformed into'). Punctuation and capitalization are mostly correct. The majority of simple sentences are error-free, and complex structures, while occasionally prone to minor errors, do not impede comprehension. Control over basic verb tenses (past simple for 2000 and present simple for today) is maintained adequately throughout the essay.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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